Unit 2

SUBJECT AND
CONTENT
In viewing art, there are clues that mediate between the artwork
and the viewer, allowing the viewer to more easily comprehend
what he is seeing.
These clues are the three basic components of a work of art:
1. Subject – the visual focus or the image that may be

extracted from examining the artwork; the “what”

2. Content – the meaning that is communicated by the

artist or the artwork; the “why”

3. Form – the development and configuration of the art

work – how the elements and the medium or material

 Lesson 1
THE SUBJECT
OF AN ART
 Subject
refers to the main idea that is

represented in the artwork; the

essence of the piece

To determine subject matter in a particular piece of art, one may be

guided by the questions:

1.What is actually depicted in this artwork?

2.What is the artist trying to express to the world.

3.What is his or her message?

4.How are they conveying that message?

 Representational art/
objective art
• use specific subject

• represent something

• clearly identifiable as something which already exist in

life

• also referred to as Figurative Art, being that it is derived

from real object sources

Planting Rice by Fernando Amorsolo

https://images.app.goo.gl/ripFpqQLC6h96U3D
8
Apple Blossoms by Kristina Nelson

https://images.app.goo.gl/73viX3YEqDLWTQ8g7
 Non-representational/

•
non-objective
compositions which do not rely on representation or mimesis to any

extent, highly subjective and can be difficult to define

• Abstract art, non figurative art, nonobjective art, and nonrepresentational

• We can focus on the elements of the artwork (form, shape, line, color, space,

and texture) in terms of the aesthetic value of the work, but the meaning

will always be personal to the viewer unless the artist has made a

statement about his or her intentions

Composition VII by Wassily Kandinski

https://images.app.goo.gl/YXg3HNWtdoh72ayv9
 Lesson 2
THE SOURCES
OF SUBJECT
art is a way of man in expressing himself, an artist’s

choice of subject or the source of his inspiration only

explains his inner world and his personality in general.

 NATURE

• It is considered the

most commonly used

source of art.

Source:art-is-fun.com (google images)

 pEOPLE
• most interesting subject

of an artwork which may

be real or imagined

source: thoughtco.com (google images)

Source: bluethumb.com.au
 HISTORY

• depiction of factual

events that occured in

the past

Bonifacio Monument by Guillermo Tolentino

 legends
• present to viewers of

the art something

tangible even when

unverified.

• Art brings life to these

Si Malakas at si Maganda by Marcelo Chan

stories.
 Religion

• conveying the artist

ideas and beliefs through

their art works

The Last Supper

mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci
 Mythology
• stories of gods and

goddesses

Medusa by Luciano Garbati

 dreams & fantasy
• explain to the viewers the

content of the art piece

including the hidden meaning

behind each work

Artworks by Josephine Wall and Barbara Devlin

 Technology
• modernity of the present is

also an inspiration being used

by artists as a source of

subject

Humanity Drowning in Technology by Elizabeth

Elkin
 Lesson 3
WAYS OF
PRESENTING
THE SUBJECT
Naturalism
• Naturalism began in the early Renaissance, and

developed itself further throughout the Renaissance

• depiction of realistic objects in a natural setting

• always depict pieces showing the idealized human

form
Hay Making by Jules Bastien-Lepage
realism
• attempt to represent subject matter truthfully,

without artificiality and avoiding speculative fiction

and supernatural elements

• Realism is the most popular way of presenting art

subjects
The Stone Breakers by Gustave
Courbet
Abstraction
• capability of the artist to use their imagination to

look beyond what we can physically see and

translate intangible emotions onto the canvas

• presenting the subject where the artist moves away

from reality
 • distortion
• alteration of the original shape
Art pieces of Henrietta Harris
 • Elongation
• subject is lengthened, protracted or extended
High Aspirations by Ernie Barnes
 • Mangling
• subject as cut, lacerated, mutilated or hacked with

repeated blows.
The Weeping Woman by Pablo Picasso
 • Cubism
• abstract figures through the use of a cone, cylinder,

sphere, triangle, square, cube and circle in place of

real pictorial elements

'Factory, Horta de Ebbo' by Pablo
Picasso
Symbolism
• use of a visible sign of an idea to convey to the

viewers, readers or audiences the message of his

work

• mystery
Mona Lisa by Da Vinci
Fauvism
• characterised by strong colours and fierce

brushwork
source: artsy.net
Dadaism
• protest movement in the art that is playful and

experimental

• “Dada” means a “hobby horse”

• aim of this method is to shock and provoke its

viewers
Fountain by Duchamp
futurism
• developed in Italy about the same time as cubism

appeared in France

• Futurist painters wanted their works to capture

the mechanical energy of modern life.

The Futuristic Art of NASA
Surrealism
• mirrors the evils of the present society

• super realism

• surrealist’s aim is to reveal the deep and ugly part

of human nature
source: pinterest.com
expresionism
• art works describing pathos, morbidity, chaos or even

defeat and was introduced in Germany from 1900 –

1910

• Expressionists believe that man needs spiritual

rebirth for him to correct defects that ruin the

society
The Scream, 1893 by Edvard Munch
 ANY
QUESTION
S?
THANK
YOU